TheScore.com writer: Coyotes were one of the ‘winners’ at 2014 NHL Draft

The Arizona Coyotes might have lost an important offensive piece after parting ways with center Mike Ribeiro after just one season Friday.

But according to one publication, general manager Don Maloney and his scouting staff did a tremendous job picking up the pieces in the 2014 NHL Draft.

Making nine picks over two days, Arizona made a cognizant effort to load up on young, offensive-minded players. Of their nine picks, seven were forwards — including Brendan Perlini, Ryan MacInnis, Dysin Mayo and Edgars Kulda.

This Coyotes draft class is loaded with talent, so much so that they earn our final “Winner” nod, edging out Bob Murray and the Anaheim Ducks by a nose.

The Coyotes got Brendan Perlini, 6-foot-3 and one of the fastest skaters in this draft class, with their first round pick and added tantalizing sleepers like Ryan MacInnis (son of Al), Christian Dvorak and Anton Karlsson (brother of Erik) with their other three draft picks in the top-100. Late round picks Dysin Mayo and Memorial Cup MVP Edgars Kulda are very intriguing as well.

Of the players Maloney has drafted in the top 100 since 2009, seven have played at the NHL level: Brandon Gormley, Chris Brown, Connor Murphy, Jordan Schwarz, Mark Visentin, Lucas Lessio and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.